OverPlay SmartDNS Review

The OverPlay Smart DNS service allows you to access geo-restricted content in the US, UK, Australia and 15 other countries. You will be able to watch movies, original content, and popular TV series from providers like Netflix, Hulu Plus, ViaPlay, Amazon Instant and other streaming media providers. You can view over 110 supported channels from anywhere in the world. Since their service works behind the scenes, you will not notice any change in your connection speed while using OverPlay.

This review will focus on OverPlay’s Smart DNS service. We’ll touch briefly on their VPN. You can read our OverPlay review on VPN Fan to learn more about their VPN service including performance testing. If you’re goal is online privacy then go with their VPN. If your goal is simply to unblock sites in other countries then Smart DNS is the right choice.

Pricing and Special Offers

OverPlay offers both Secure VPN (SmartDNS Included) and stand-alone SmartDNS packages. Each service is sold in two terms: monthly and annual. OverPlay is offering up to 16% off annual sign ups. Visit the OverPlay site and sign up for 12 months of service to save with price from just $4.16 a month.

OverPlay accepts credit cards and PayPal. You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. Managing your account is easy from inside the members area. You can cancel your account at anytime. You can add, edit, or delete payment information from your account profile page and set the default payment method. They make it easy to upgrade your service to “Global VPN+SmartDNS” or downgrade it to “SmartDNS” though your account. All changes will be effective at the end of the current paid period.

OverPlay Free Trial

OverPlay does not have a free trial. However, they offer all new members a two day money back guarantee. This will give you plenty of time to test their service. We recommend you watch some popular international TV shows, view an HD movie, listen to some of your favorite tunes, and even catch a live sporting event.

What is Smart DNS and How Does OverPlay Work?

Whether we’re talking about OverPlay or any of our top 10 services, it helps to know what SmartDNS means and how it works. The goal of SmartDNS is to help users unblock geographic restrictions for sites like Netflix, Hulu and BBC. They will help you access geo-resticted sites from anywhere in the world without any loss in perforfance. This is different from a VPN which adds encryption but in turn decreases the speed of your connection.

OverPlay has excellent step-by-step guides to help you configure your devices. You can use their custom client to automate setup on your Windows or Mac. They also have an iOS app. For now I want to quickly share how easy it is to get started. Once you sign up, simply visit their site and change your DNS settings to those provided by OverPlay. You will then have access to channels like Netflix, Amazon Instant and HBO GO in multiple regions.

OverPlay Client

OverPlay Smart DNS differs from most the services on our list in that it offers a custom client if you sign up for their Secure VPN service. This software is for both SmartDNS and VPN. As you can see in the image below, it will help you unblock content in different regions.

The client lists five regions – Singapore, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the US. I suggest you connect to the closest region to your current location for the best performance. To the right of each location you will see the ping time. Selecting the lowest ping should give you the fastest connection.

The OverPlay team has developed client software for Windows and Mac, as well as an iOS app. For SmartDNS you can simply change your DNS settings. You don’t need to use the software for SmartDNS but it’s a nice feature.

Overplays Jetswitch

On March 18, 2015 Overplay changed the shape of the Smart DNS landscape when they announced JetSwitch for their Smart DNS service. Although a few providers have features to allow you to set regional preferences for Netflix or other groups of channels, none offer you the flexibility of JetSwitch. It lets Smart DNS users have complete control of their regional channel selection.

JetSwitch allows you to turn off and on Overplays SmartDNS service for your IP at just the touch of a single button. No longer do you need to alter your universal DNS settings to disable the service. It gives users the option to set the individual regional channel preferences. Channel preferences like those shown in the above image would allow you to enjoy Netflix US, Amazon Instant UK, NFL GamePass Netherlands, ViaPlay Sweden, and Zattoo Germany. Once all preferences are chosen JetSwitch will let you transparently surf over 100 channels across the world. You can also turn Smart DNS off for individual channels.

Supported Devices

This is an area where Smart DNS shines over VPN. You can use OverPlay to unblock access to sites on a wide range of devices. You aren’t limited to just Windows or Mac. You can set up OverPlay on your phone, tablet, game console and media player. They support routers as well which gives every wifi device in your home access to the service.

OverPlay offers excellent step-by-step guides to configure the devices they support. They have a custom VPN client for Windows and Mac. They also have a Smart DNS app for iOS devices. You can also manually set your DNS without using the client software. If you have a device that is not in the list above, then check and see if you can manually change DNS settings. If it supports DNS changes then it should work with the service.

Channel Line-Up

The OverPlay channel list is easy to find. They have a link at the top of the site to their channels page. You’ll find a full list of supported channels by country. Some services like Netflix offer different content based on country so OverPlay supports multiple regions. They also list supported devices for each channel.

OverPlay’s SmartDNS will help you unblock access to all the channels listed above from anywhere in the world. You will still need a paid subscription for services like Netflix and Hulu Plus. Some may require a cable or satellite subscription.

OverPlay Speed Test

As I mentioned earlier the difference between a VPN and Smart DNS is encryption. A VPN uses encryption to secure your data. Unfortunately using encryption can slow down your connection. This is where Smart DNS comes in. Smart DNS will unblock access to sites in other countries without the need for encryption. This method doesn’t slow down your Internet connection. I do not experience any speed loss using OverPlay.

OverPlay Review : Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for SmartDNS or VPN access OverPlay offers world class service. The company has been around longer than most and has an experienced support team to answer any questions. If you want privacy protection I suggest their VPN service. It includes SmartDNS free of charge.

The goal of OverPlay’s SmartDNS is to unblock sites without the need for encryption. They do a very good job of helping you access channels in other countries. The support a large variety of devices and have excellent guides to help you configure them. Enjoy unlimited SmartDNS from just $4.16 when you sign up for a 12 month subscription.